Ok, as of this week I am officially glad that I started this rewatch. Shows that I liked before, I have decided I loved. Shows that I didn’t like before, I have a real appreciation for now. Before I thought that the first season was really about introducing the characters and establishing their stories, as well as teasing us with hints at some mysteries. Now, in light of the season 5 finale, I am seeing the real map for the series being laid out for us all through these first 8 episodes. This week what I saw over and over, was the theme of ‘choice’. Our characters are faced with temptation, and choices. During the rest of this article I am going to discuss the episode themes, how they fit in with my reset theory (see my “Back to the Beginning” article for more on that), and the over-arching theme of choice.

In “The Incident” Jacob and Nemesis discuss the idea of who is right and who is wrong between them. We never learn exactly what the subject is, but it seems to be the judgment of mankind. It seems that Jacob thinks they are worthwhile and that Nemesis thinks they are corrupted and destructive. Given that impression of these two ‘men’, it would seem that the whole series might hinge on that one scene on the beach. It’s amazing to realize that it has taken us 5 seasons to even get this hazy of a picture of what this show is all about. So if we go by the idea that Jacob and Nemesis are judging mankind, by the actions and reactions of the people that they bring to the island through fate, then that colors all the previous seasons in a whole new light. When I went back for the rewatch, I have seen that it was there all along. It was just hard to see the subtle morality messages with Kate stripping down to her bra, and Sawyer forgetting to wear his shirt every other episode. Oh, and the boars, bears and Smokey were a little distracting too.

White Rabbit
The subject of leadership was again a theme in this episode. Jack was belittled by his father from an early age into thinking he wasn’t strong enough or hard enough to be a leader, he doesn’t “have what it takes”. Clearly we see in this episode that the adult Jack believes it. This episode just renewed the anger I felt during “The Incident” when Christian tells Jack that he wasn’t the one that didn’t believe in Jack. He said it was Jack that didn’t believe in himself. Argh! He lies like the writer’s lie. Oh wait, it’s the writers that are making him lie. Hmmm, better not think about that one too long. The point is, it was Christian that didn’t believe in Jack. Hello, “You don’t have what it takes”. It was Christian that made Jack not believe in himself. But alas I am ranting. Moving on.

My reset theory also had representation in this episode. Charlie states that, “I don’t swim. I don’t swim.” If Charlie had been resurrected from his death-by-drowning, the last thing he would want to do is dive into this ocean. On the other hand if he were simply trying to make sure that he didn’t die too soon, he would also want to avoid the water. Let’s remember that in Desmond’s first premonition of Charlie’s death, he drowned trying to save Claire. When it is discovered that the water supply has been stolen, the survivors discuss it with Locke. At first he asks where the Dr. is, then he turns around and says that he will go and find him because, “Besides, I know where to look.” Huh? First of all this fits perfectly with the description that I have heard about Locke from other fans, that he displays a split personality disorder throughout the seasons. How can he not know where the Dr. is one second and know where to look the next? When we last saw Locke 2.0 in season 5, he knew everything about the island. He knew when things were going to happen, like when the time-traveling Locke would need first aid for his gunshot. And he knew where things were that John Locke did not, like the temple. This Locke in “White Rabbit” knew where Jack had gone. Jack didn’t even know where he was. And Locke got there quick enough to save him from certain death. Really lucky timing. And I would like to note that John could not see Jack to know where to reach for him. All Jack could see was a mystery hand reaching over and down for him. Jack couldn’t see Locke’s head, so Locke couldn’t have seen Jack. Divine guidance, or a higher power impersonating Locke? It’s something to consider. The scene that follows the cliff rescue was lovely and powerful. It was a real treasure for me on this rewatch because it’s such a rare scene. No conflict, no fighting. No crazed looks from Jack. It was a compassionate exchange of ideas and feelings. Jack tells him that he might be going crazy because he’s seeing things. Locke responds, “…But what if you’re not?” That line reminds me so much of season 2 when we meet Desmond in Jack’s flashback. He kept asking Jack, “But what if you did?” In that scene with Desmond, I always felt like Henry Ian Cusick played that scene as if he were some spiritual guru, a wiseman that knew things Jack did not. So between time travel and island mysticism, comparing these two encounters could be important. Jack admits to Locke that he would fail as a leader. The Jack I have come to know over the years is more likely to tell him that Locke would fail. “But what if everything that happened here, happened for a reason?” Why wouldn’t Locke say happening instead of happened? It seems odd phrasing. It’s not like things on this island were strange for a couple of days and now everything is normal. Why past tense? I can’t help but wonder if this would also be part of a reset. Is this a do-over and Locke is referring to everything in all 5 seasons that happened? Then Locke sends Jack off to finish whatever it was that Jack was doing when he nearly got himself killed. Nice advice John. He’s dehydrated, delusional and lost. Let’s send him deeper into uncharted territory. “Because a leader can’t lead until he knows where he’s going” was Locke’s explanation. It seems that he might have known that Jack was heading for water. Again I would ask, divine guidance or reset?

Charlie’s refusal to swim scene can also be used in the category of choices. Charlie chose not to swim. Even though he was suffering from the effect of his drug use, this choice could still be considered selfish and the consequences of that were that someone died. Jack swam out to save the drowning victim instead. To his surprise, it was Boone, the supposed licensed lifeguard. Jack realizes that the original victim is still out there, further out to sea. He makes a heartbreaking decision to save the one he can, instead of the one he might be able to. This choice haunts him and further drives home the feeling that he doesn’t want to be responsible for these people. Joanna’s death is never far from his mind, even as they discuss the water supply.

House of the Rising Sun

We see more moments in this episode that could fit with a reset. As Jack brings Kate, Locke and Charlie to the caves for a water haul, Locke stops short. He looks around at the surrounding jungle as if looking for or at something we can’t see. Just then a bird screeches, “ock!”. He moves on and follows the rest into the caves. Later, after the skeletons of “Adam and Eve” are discovered, Charlie is discussing them with Locke. Charlie says, “These are the people that were here before us.” Locke is as unnerved by his wording as I was this time around. Locke replies, ” What are you talking about?” Charlie stumbles over his answer as he says, “Just you know, there, there could have been people here before us, right?” It was not a very smooth attempt at a save. I think the writers must have wanted us to notice it. This of course could fit in with my reset theory. It is entirely possible that Charlie may have had some knowledge of island history in this scene. If only because of the way he fell all over himself trying to correct his wording. Later when Charlie sneaks off for a drug fix, Locke follows him. They discuss Drive Shaft and we find out that Locke was a fan of the band. As they talk about his lost guitar, Charlie laments that he will likely never find it again. Locke assures him that, “You will see it again.” How does he know that? Finally Locke tells Charlie, “What I know is that this island just might give you what you’re looking for but you have to give the island something. Look up.” This last line reminds me of other similar phrases on the show like lift it up and look to the North. Mostly though, it speaks of sacrifice to the island, fate and inexplicable island knowledge. On the beach Kate solemnly tells Jack, “I don’t want to be Eve…I just can’t…dig in.” This line could be more ironic by series end, once we find out the true identity of the famed ‘Adam and Eve’. It is also amusing to note that Michael rants to Jin about the watch when he yells, “…time doesn’t matter on a damn island!”

Choices were represented in this episode as well. We see Jin choosing to brutally attack Michael instead of trying to get his watch back. Sawyer surprisingly chooses to voluntarily help break up the fight and carry Michael to safety. That’s a very rare example of selflessness for season one Sawyer. Jack gives Charlie the task of searching through the cave site wreckage for any drugs he can find. Was that Jack or the island that is throwing temptation at Charlie? Michael and Walt have some interesting dialogue while they talk about why Jin would have attacked Michael on the beach. Walt questions what it was that Michael did to him. Michael is very insulted by his insinuation. “Have you seen me do anything to anyone? What kind of man do you think I am anyway?” This is great foreshadowing to what horrific choice Michael will make later when faced with the notion, or temptation of getting Walt back from the Others. Later Walt will think that Michael is a bad man for what he did to get him back. In the Sun flashback we see Jin come home from a job he did for Mr. Paik. He is covered in blood. Sun is panicked and won’t let the subject go until Jin admits what it is that he is doing for her father. After she has slapped him he admits that, ” I do it for us. I do whatever your father tells me to.” He has made his choice to go along with whatever repugnant job Mr. Paik forces him to do, so that he can have a marriage with Sun. Sun acted horrified at this even though later we will find out that she, in fact, was the one that made that decision for Jin, when she agreed to give in to blackmail. As with most of our characters, when faced with choices and temptations, they chose poorly. Eventually we see in Sun’s flashback that when the moment of truth came in the airport, she could not leave Jin. When the clock struck 11:15, she looked at Jin as he pulled out a white corsage. It was just like the kind he used to give her when their life was more innocent. She chose to stay. The song at the close of the show was fitting in it’s theme. ‘Are You Sure?’, among other things, is about questioning your choices.

The Moth

Aside from choice and temptation , I did find another theme repeating throughout this episode. Charlie is repeatedly told by many characters, that he is not needed, useless and questioned as to what purpose he serves at all. Many of these statements come from his brother Liam. I renewed my hatred of Liam in this episode. I boiled as I watched him repeatedly use and betray Charlie. As Hurley tells Charlie that his most prized possession, the symbol of his greatest gift, is in the way, Charlie explodes into a tantrum to Jack, and causes a cave in. I have to point out that it was this episode that first introduced the background characters of Scott and Steve. These were the characters that our Losties notoriously confused for each other and couldn’t even remember which one was alive and which one was dead. They did look a lot alike. To my knowledge this was the only episode in which they appeared together. I guess that would rule out any Clark Kent/Superman theories, huh?

There was not as much fodder in this for my reset theory. The only thing I saw was that Kate and Sayid discuss fate vs. coincidence. Sayid thinks that because the mid-section of the plane cart wheeled through the jungle, they shouldn’t have survived.”No one is that lucky”. Kate says that some things just happen.

As a rule I don’t like to rewatch Charlie episodes. On first viewing I like any episode of Lost. However Charlie’s episodes have always been such whiny downers that I just couldn’t stand to watch them again. But at least with this episode, I will have to change that opinion. “The Moth” was riddled with ‘choice’ themes. If Nemesis thinks that mankind will always give in to temptation and cause destruction with their choices, then Charlie would not have disappointed him. The confessional scene spelled it all out for us as the priest says, “Well we all have out temptations, but giving into them, that’s your choice. As we live our lives, it’s really nothing but a series of choices isn’t it?” As Charlie decides to quit the band, to get rid of his temptations, he is faced with Liam and a recording contract. Liam is waiting for him in the pews, disrespectfully lazing about like Lucifer holding out the forbidden fruit. He even tells Charlie, “You’re going to be a rock god!” Later, while Charlie is going through a painful detox, he talks to Locke about getting his drug stash back. Locke tells him that if he asks him 3 times he will give it back to him. Charlie questions why not just get rid of it then? Locke replies, “If I did that you wouldn’t have a choice, Charlie. And having choices, making decisions based on more than instincts is the only thing that separates you from him (gesturing to the boar).” When Jack and Hurley are dragging in the supplies to the caves, Charlie offers to help. The suitcase he picks is broken and the contents spill out everywhere. Charlie is surrounded by a large pile of drugs of every kind. As a clearly suffering Charlie is dazed by the cruelty of this new temptation, Jack sends him away to take care of himself and rest. I have to stop here and ask how an unworldly man like Locke can pick up, in a second, that Charlie is abusing drugs, yet a highly trained medical professional can’t tell when a man is in the full ravages of drug detox? Charlie comes to Locke a second time to beg for his drug stash. Locke shows him a moth cocoon and tells him the story about the moth’s struggle. “Now I could help it…and the moth would be free. But it would be too weak to survive. Struggle is nature’s way of strengthening.” Charlie eventually volunteers to crawl through hole to help free Jack. He is unusually selfless in his assessment that the others have more to loose. Some might think this a self-pity moment, however it felt more generous and noble to me. This marks Charlie’s first rescue mission, but we all know it won’t be his last. Charlie panics when Jack explains that he will have to reset his dislocated shoulder. Jack tells Charlie that he “can do this.” Charlie responds well to the encouragement. If this episode is any kind of example, it would seem that Charlie hasn’t had a lot of encouragement in his life. Jack praises him for his courage after he finally identifies that he is in detox. After he spots the moth, Charlie follows it and breaks out of their cocoon-like cave and brings Jack to safety. I will try to ignore my inability to believe that a man with a busted shoulder could crawl up and out of an underground cave. As night falls Charlie again asks Locke for his drugs. Once he has them, Charlie throws them into the fire. Locke tells Charlie how proud of him he is and that he always knew that he could do it. I feel the need to point out what a busy day Locke had. Hunting for boar, trapping and killing it, skinning it, shepherding Charlie through drug rehab and oh yeah, hiking out into the jungle to find and knock Sayid out, undetected, and then getting back in time for Charlie’s rehab graduation by firelight. Bravo Locke. I need to take a tutorial from him on time management skills, seriously.

Confidence Man

On the subject of reset I should point out that Locke displays excellent manipulation skills in this episode, as he points Sayid in the direction of Sawyer. That’s not typical Locke, but it is typical Nemesis. It is interesting to note that as this scene plays out, Locke is lit half in darkness, half in light.

As he and Sayid drag an unconscious Sawyer off for interrogation, Jack defends himself to Kate, “This was Sawyer’s choice, not mine!” Later he tells Sawyer that they gave him the chance to do the right thing. Sawyer is in full out self-loathing mode. When Sawyer is seriously injured and bleeding Jack goes to great effort to stop the bleeding while Sayid runs across island for first aid supplies. Later as he is recovering, he tells Kate the story of how his choices made him into the very same kind of man that he was hunting. He had become Sawyer. Sayid leaves the beach camp, disgusted with himself and what he did. He had vowed to himself to never do that again, once he left Iraq. Since he had chosen to do that again, he couldn’t trust himself.

Choices and temptations were alluded to in the beach scene of “The Incident”. It is rewarding to see that even in season one, the writers were trying to tell us that all along.

Jun 14th by StefanyMac